Eaves-trough shank



Sept. 22, 1925. 1,554,778

' M. R. BERGER HAVE-s rnouGH SHANK Filed April 14, 1923 L J gj L, U 'l G O O G #iM/053V@ Patented Sept. 22, 1925.

UNITED STATES MATTHEW EUssELL BERGER, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

EAVES-TROUGH SHANK.

Application med April i4, 1923. serial No. 631,995.

. which the following is a specification.

This invention, generally sta-tech, relates to eaves trough hangers and has more especial relation to the shanks therefor.

A common form` of shank, as at present manufactured, ismade of channel iion with the angles or flanges of that portion of the shank adapted for engagement beneath the roof shingles, partially removed, usually by means of a shearing operation. Primarily such shearing operation requires considerable time; must be carefully done; and elimy inates a portion of the stock7 forming the shank. Secondarily, when securing shingles over such sheared shank ends, practice dictates that, the shinglesfrequently split.l particularly if the shearing has left an unequal distribution of angles or flanges, and further, a shank end is not easily caused to engage beneath a shingle.

The leading object of the present invention is to overcome the above described disadvantageous features and provide a construction of shank in which the shearing of shank angles or flanges is eliminated thereby requiring no stock to be `taken from the shank, the flanges according to the present invention being flattened or squeezed by a press at that end adapted to lie beneath roof shingles, thereby reducing the cost of manufacture; speeding up production; providing a tapered end for ready insertion beneath shingles; and reducing the possibility of splitting shingles when nailing same in place over a shank. lith these and other objects in view the invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described and finally claimed.

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1, is a view in plan of channel iron prior to the presentation thereof to a press.

Fig. 2, is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3, is a diagrammatic view of the manner of forming the shank end in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 4, is a view in side elevation of the shank after the press operation.`

Fig. 5, is a top or plan view thereof.

Fig. 6, is a view in cross-section taken upon the line 5 5 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7, is an elevational view of thev completed shank, and y Fig. 8, is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating a shankembodying the invention as applied beneath a shingle.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various ,instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

According to the present invention wrought U-shaped channel iron 10 or other Vmetal of channel formation and of desired length, see Figs. 1 and 2; apertured as at 11 for gutter-circle adjustment; and slotted as at 12 for shingle-nail penetration, has that end which is slotted presented to a press for flattening the angles or flanges of the channel iron to reduce the thickness of the channel iron without separating or dividing the channel iron material. .While for illustrative purposes the term channel iron will be used herein, obviously I may employ copper, brass or other metal capable of being flattened in a press and in all instances the channel metal employed is of constant cross sectional area. The die 18 `employed for the purpose is slightly tapered so that the flanges of the channel iron adjacent that end thereof as is provided with the slots 12 are flattened out substantially flush with the body portion of the channel iron, A,see Fig. 6', and thereafter are gradually less disturbed. This provides a generally tapered effect 14. considered in side elevation, see Fig. 4. Considered in plan, see Fig. 5, the flattened end 15 is appreciably wider than is 4the opposite end of the channel iron and this width gradually decreases as the height of the tapering angles or flanges increase. There is thus provided, considered in plan, a generally tapered effect. In other words the portion of the Vchannel iron having the slots 12 therein is tapered longitudinally and transversely; consideredf. The `tapered construction terminates short 'of that' part of the channel iron provided With the apertures 1L. Therchannel :irony Sis: now subjected to a bending operation at 16 Well under stood in the art to rovide a finishedleavesl trough shank, see F ig. 7. By the above method of manufactureslfearingof angles or flanges is eliminated; no stock is taken Y from' theI `chanjneliron material; 'the cost of manufacture is reduced {the-'speeding up' of Work' enhanced v';' xcare in presenting (angles or flanges for/change in contour reduced to a minimum; and ai more efcientAk and generall-y improved'shanlprovided- Anotheradvantage resides in the fact*thattlieflattened adfreduced endpoff shanlr may` be more readilydnserted beneath aroofshingle 17, see Fig. 8'; because it"islnovvf'relatively thin ands free' ofls projecting* portions,-'`angles or ang'rlsA or! iangesfeveni though they" be A skewed-:1

It vvill nou bey apparent fthat l Thane-dg vised 'ae novelland usefl'constructiom' which embodies' the' featuresoftadvantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the inventiennandn the? abvove;` description and While I have in the present instance shown andr described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to givesatsfaotryf'and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modificationinvarious particulars `Without departing from the spirit or'scopeof the inventlonor sacrificingjany 'ofits advantages. l

VVhat'I claimV is Asa newJ article ofmanufacture an eaves trouglr shanlr ofchannelV formationl'iaving a constant crosslsectional'ar'ea -tlie4 angles or to'provide a` relatively fiat, broa'denedfcondition` Which Vangles -or flanges thereafter are less-mutilated Yand* taper toward'lthe opposite cnd of saidshan'k-to provide asubst'antially WedgeLshaped end for ready insertion beneatlf'aroof-'shingl'er e In .testimony whereof,I I' yhave"liereunto signedmy name.'

MATTHEW'RUSSELL' BERGER 

